Getting deferred from your top-choice school can be disappointing, but don’t despair! There are a number of steps that students can take after a deferral to improve their admission chances in the regular round.

Early Decision, Early Action, Early Decision II, Restrictive Early Action — believe it or not, the list goes on. There is no shortage of early application options for college admissions these days, and some hold a significant statistical advantage to students. Yes, this means that in some early processes, most students are significantly more likely to receive offers of admissions than if they applied Regular Decision. The percent advantage ranges from school to school and differs when it comes to Early Action programs. Read on for a breakdown of the numbers and for insight on why students should consider participating in early admissions programs.

Applying to U.S. colleges can be a confusing and stressful process. Part of this stems from the fact that schools typically have several application rounds and deadlines that you need to know about. Understanding and leveraging these different options, however, can provide a strategic advantage in the college application process.

Students who are interested in applying Early Decision likely have many questions about the process. From what the timeline looks like to how this process will impact their admissions odds, there are a multitude of queries that go through every applicant’s mind.

There are some advantages to applying Early Decision or Early Action to your top-choice college. However, when developing an application strategy it’s important to know when it’s appropriate to apply in the early round — and when you should hold off.

If you have a burning question about the college admissions process, chances are, you aren’t the only student with that question! An IvyWise counselor recently answered this student’s question about Early Decision policies.

Now that you’ve finalized your balanced college list, it’s time to evaluate your application strategy — deciding when and how you will apply. Given the hyper-competitive landscape, it’s more important than ever for college-bound high school seniors to consider how their application strategy will impact their chances of admission at their dream schools.

One of the most important elements of the college admission process is also one of the most overlooked by students and their parents: timing. When competing for admission at your top-choice college, it’s not enough to just write a few essays and hit “submit.”

For students expecting early decisions, it’s easy to imagine how they’ll react to their admissions outcomes — whether it’s an acceptance or a rejection. But there’s another possibility on the table that many students forget to prepare for: a deferral.